Students take the PSAT both to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship and to get an indication of how they will perform on the SAT, which is used to determine college admissions. When students score poorly on the PSAT, they have an opportunity to rethink their test prep strategy so that they can perform better on the SAT and increase the competitive of their college applications.

Be a Diligent Student

Most students take the PSAT when they are a sophomore and then take the SAT when they are a junior. In most cases, that gives students a whole year to prepare for the SAT, including taking a whole year of additional courses. By being a diligent student in those courses -- including paying attention in class, participating in classroom discussions, taking good notes, and studying thoroughly for all tests -- students can build a strong academic foundation that will help them perform better on the SAT. Students should view this year as one intense study session leading up to the test.

Identify Weaknesses

The PSAT and the SAT both test critical reading, math and writing skills. When you take the PSAT, you have the opportunity to identify weaknesses so that you can focus your study sessions on those areas to improve your overall score. Therefore, if you performed poorly on the math section, you can get more study materials to bolster your math skills. Also, the Washington Post reported that students who take the PSAT scored 145 points higher on the SAT than those who did not take the test, so simply taking the PSAT is a good way to become familiar with the test and improve your performance later.

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Take Practice Tests

A number of practice tests and practice questions are available both online and in test prep books that can help you improve your test taking strategies and focus your study sessions on the right content. The College Board includes practice tests on its website, and many test prep books include them, as well. Take the tests in the same time limit -- 3 hours and 45 minutes -- to practice test day conditions and make sure you can perform under pressure.

Enroll in a Prep Course

Many SAT prep courses are available to help you focus your study sessions and tailor your test prep to your own strengths and weaknesses. U.S. News and World Report recommends online services Grockit and ePrep. Talk to an academic adviser at your school to get other recommendations for courses offered in your area and to find out about the possibility of a tuition waiver, if you need one.

References

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About the Author

Maria Magher has been working as a professional writer since 2001. She has worked as an ESL teacher, a freshman composition teacher and an education reporter, writing for regional newspapers and online publications. She has written about parenting for Pampers and other websites. She has a Master's degree in English and creative writing.